Samsung Galaxy Round – First Curved Screen Phone, But Is It Useful?

Samsung today announced new Galaxy ROUND – a new Android powered phone with flexible display, which actually is a curved screen phone (Flexible, as in innovative technology). We can’t really twist the phone. Galaxy ROUND will be available in Korea from October 10, 2013. We were expecting a Flexible display on a Note-3 variety, however, the company might have dropped those plans for good. May be?

Galaxy ROUND Specifications

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset

2.3 GHz quad-core processor

3GB RAM

5.7 inch Full HD Super AMOLED display with 386 ppi

32GB internal storage

Expandable up to 64GB

13 megapixel rear & 2 megapixel front camera

2800 mAh battery

Is Galaxy ROUND really useful?

Galaxy ROUND appeared as a surprising phone to me when I first saw on Samsung Tomorrow. I really felt like, this phone is NOT an absolute necessity to anyone, not even to someone who wants to shell out large sums of money.

It does not offer a great deal of innovation going forward unless, Samsung has different intentions like; showing-off to a competition, impressing investors, getting more clientele for this particular technology or may be, they are testing a market’s reaction.

That’s probably why there are no plans revealed about its international release or international pricing, even though the pictures show it supports LTE.

What’s good or innovative about it?

It doesn’t impress me a great deal – except that the never-seen-before curved screen and a curved back plate; well, that’s what I thought after seeing the pictures. Will be able to tell more when we get it in hands for a review.

Yet, I think following could be advantage of this curved screen & a curved back

Theatre-like, more focused view especially when in landscape mode & for watching videos (Some people are complaining about distortion but I don’t think that is the case)

Minimal contact with the surface – to avoid more damages or scratches on back & on edges of the front

Will fit better on ears when speaking on phone

It might fall on edges with less chances of hitting the screen directly

What’s bad about it?

On flat screens, avoiding a glare is much easier by going away from the light source. But on a curved display, avoiding a glare would be much difficult (at least when the situation appears)

Without air gestures, this phone would be difficult to use as a Touch Screen phone

Simply because, swiping on this screen will be limited & with a difficult movement compared to that of open, flat screens. Imagine keeping this phone on a desk & when you want to use it.

Slight optical illusion when seeing pictures & videos when held vertically than what they may look at a flat screen.

You tell us more…

Roll Effect Video

I am not 100% sure about the need of the Samsung Galaxy Round – but, if the good points I thought is a reality of this device then, it may fill-in the gap for few. Also, it would take more time to get used to these types of phones. Apart from that – the phone design appears usable for large-screen (anything above 5 inches) phones. Do share your thoughts with us in comments.